Is there a tipping point , full pay?

[Anonymous]

This thread has been eye opening. So many conditions.

My mom had conditions for me and it severely affected our relationship. So, I’ve definitely erred on the side of none.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm seeing now where the "full pay" but donut hole families are at quite the disadvantage.

Big difference. We’re “full pay” in the fully funded 529s that could cover also grad school, and plan to help with down payments, weddings, etc. So if you’re that level of “full pay” and still insist on JMU over BC, then you’re rich and sad. If it’s your retirement contributions or food on the table versus Tulane, then go Dukes.

Or it could just mean that even though they can afford it, they think paying $85k to attend BC is insane. Is your position that someone of means is living a “sad life” if they purchase a Honda instead of a Mercedes?

If you make $650k then the difference between BC and VCU is trivial, and it's insane (and yes, sad) to play hardball with the kid over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are full pay with a HHI around 650k. we would only have paid slightly above in state, so merit is critical for private or OOS. our kid also is pre med and we plan on paying for medical school. He is at his first year at VCU. he also got in Vandy, Colgate, and UT Austin.

Got into Vandy, Colgate, Austin, went to VCU? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

Because he is pre-med and that would be a colossal waste of money. He also got into a bunch of other schools, but all were similar in price to VCU (before the provost scolarship). My examples were real life comparisons as the poster was asking about private/expensive schools.

Don't let them DCUM Shame you. What your kid is doing is the smart choice!
Even if he decides not to do Medical school (as someone stated), he will be debt free, likely have a very high gpa and the ability to go to an excellent grad program in whatever he wants to do, all that you can afford to pay for.

The kid didn’t decide that…his dum a** parent let him apply to schools that don’t give merit aid and then told his kid he can’t go because….guess what…he didn’t get merit aid.

I mean don’t let him apply.

where did i say he couldn’t go? he could go, but he’d blow through all his med school money. Unlike you he’s intelligent and understands what it takes to get into med school and understands that 300k is better spent on med school than undergrad that doesn’t mean shit for med school applications.

Many of you clearly know absolutely nothing about what it takes to be a doctor. You’re goofy.

Those of us who intended, at one time, to become a doctor but changed our minds and our major in undergrad think it's nuts to choose your undergrad based on "doesn't matter where you go if you're going to med school".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are full pay with a HHI around 650k. we would only have paid slightly above in state, so merit is critical for private or OOS. our kid also is pre med and we plan on paying for medical school. He is at his first year at VCU. he also got in Vandy, Colgate, and UT Austin. He didn’t get merit from any of them. He did get the provost scholarship at VCU for 16k/yr so that 64k goes towards med school. He will not need to take out any loads for med school.

What if he decides he doesn't want to go to med school...which a ton of kids do? Why would you have him apply to a school like Vandy or UT Austin or Colgate, knowing they give almost zero merit aid?

I don't undestand? Then he does not go to med school, what do all those kids do? They do someting else LOL! I think his chances are high. His dad is a doctor, his grandfather is a doctor, his uncle is a doctor, he knows exactly what he is getting into.

we did not dictate where he applied, or where he chose to go. He does know exactly how much money he has for undergrad and med school and made his decision accordingly. He also knows that his GPA and MCAT and ECs/research are absoultly critical to getting into a good med school.

DP: And it's much easier to have a near 4.0 and have time to study for the MCATs if you are at a school like VCU (when you got into T25 schools as well). Yes it will be challenging but nowhere on the same level as doing premed at Vandy or Colgate or UT Austin. And you are correct---he will have the ability to do research as an undergrad at VCU and volunteer at the hospital,etc. He will have an easy time building the full resume for Med School applications. People somehow think going to the tippy top schools is always the best. If your intent is med school, law school, any type of medical graduate school, it's often not the best. Going to "a slightly lesser school" where you can shine and will have an easier path to success is the smarter path.
Either way, he gets his undergrad degree for virtually no cost to you (just R&B).

If only more people thought this way

DP: I'm a Vandy alum and can't really quibble with the VCU choice. Particularly if he did or will do the guaranteed admission program. https://honors.vcu.edu/admissions/guaranteed-admission/

Yup---VCU is an excellent med school. And it's instate tuition is very reasonable. If your goal is to be a doctor, it's an excellent path to ensure you go straight to medical school and don't have to spend a year or two "studying for the MCATs and applying and hoping you get in".

Do you care where your doctor got their degree? I don't--beyond I'm not keen on seeing one who went to medical school in the Caribbean (those are known to be slightly lower level, easier to get into). But as long as they are board certified there is not different between a Harvard med grad and a vcu grad---both will be outstanding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are full pay with a HHI around 650k. we would only have paid slightly above in state, so merit is critical for private or OOS. our kid also is pre med and we plan on paying for medical school. He is at his first year at VCU. he also got in Vandy, Colgate, and UT Austin.

Got into Vandy, Colgate, Austin, went to VCU? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

Vandy and Colgate are all ~$80K+, and Austin OOSis 70K+. PP stated he got $16K scholarship--so tuition free for IN-state. Pretty smart to take that and run to the bank. VCU has an excellent premed program---he will be well prepared. Chem 101/102, Org Chem 201/202 and Biology 101/102 all cover the material at every university. To get into Med school you need a high gpa, research, great recommendation letters and a High MCAT. Much easier to get a high GPA at VCU than at any of those with all the weed out courses and high competition. He will easily get a 3.8+ at VCU. Not to mention he will likely get to do research, be more involved with professors as the big fish in the pond at VCU vs everywhere else. It's a win-win.
Financially, it's a no-brainer. His ultimately goal is medical school. He will get that debt free, not many people can say that. And the $64K he saves from undergrad will pay for a good portion of one year.

Blah blah blah if I made $650k I would not GAF about that or be trying to nickel and dime undergrad.

Well good for you. However, your kid might go to one of those Elite schools and struggle to keep a 3.9+ and stuggle to get into medical school. While this kid could be on a direct path to medical school at VCU (and likely is). Even if he wants to go elsewhere, he likely will have a 3.8/3.9+ GPA and well set to get in anywhere. Med school don't give you a leg up because you did undergrad at an elite school. They look at MCATs and your GPA/GPA for prereqs and your reserach/involment/volunteering. This kid as a top honors student at VCU will have the opportunity to excel at that. Not as much at Vandy---where 35%+ of the undergrads start wanting premed.

So feel free to throw away your money at college and possibly have your kid taking 2-3 cycles to get into medical school. Meanwhile, this kid will be almost thru medical school, with a tuition of only $34K/year for med school before your kid might even start medical school.
Just because you have money doesn't mean you throw it away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are full pay with a HHI around 650k. we would only have paid slightly above in state, so merit is critical for private or OOS. our kid also is pre med and we plan on paying for medical school. He is at his first year at VCU. he also got in Vandy, Colgate, and UT Austin. He didn’t get merit from any of them. He did get the provost scholarship at VCU for 16k/yr so that 64k goes towards med school. He will not need to take out any loads for med school.

What if he decides he doesn't want to go to med school...which a ton of kids do? Why would you have him apply to a school like Vandy or UT Austin or Colgate, knowing they give almost zero merit aid?

I don't undestand? Then he does not go to med school, what do all those kids do? They do someting else LOL! I think his chances are high. His dad is a doctor, his grandfather is a doctor, his uncle is a doctor, he knows exactly what he is getting into.

we did not dictate where he applied, or where he chose to go. He does know exactly how much money he has for undergrad and med school and made his decision accordingly. He also knows that his GPA and MCAT and ECs/research are absoultly critical to getting into a good med school.

DP: And it's much easier to have a near 4.0 and have time to study for the MCATs if you are at a school like VCU (when you got into T25 schools as well). Yes it will be challenging but nowhere on the same level as doing premed at Vandy or Colgate or UT Austin. And you are correct---he will have the ability to do research as an undergrad at VCU and volunteer at the hospital,etc. He will have an easy time building the full resume for Med School applications. People somehow think going to the tippy top schools is always the best. If your intent is med school, law school, any type of medical graduate school, it's often not the best. Going to "a slightly lesser school" where you can shine and will have an easier path to success is the smarter path.
Either way, he gets his undergrad degree for virtually no cost to you (just R&B).

If only more people thought this way

DP: I'm a Vandy alum and can't really quibble with the VCU choice. Particularly if he did or will do the guaranteed admission program. https://honors.vcu.edu/admissions/guaranteed-admission/

Yup---VCU is an excellent med school. And it's instate tuition is very reasonable. If your goal is to be a doctor, it's an excellent path to ensure you go straight to medical school and don't have to spend a year or two "studying for the MCATs and applying and hoping you get in".

Do you care where your doctor got their degree? I don't--beyond I'm not keen on seeing one who went to medical school in the Caribbean (those are known to be slightly lower level, easier to get into). But as long as they are board certified there is not different between a Harvard med grad and a vcu grad---both will be outstanding.

Don't disagree with you as a patient. I don't know how the "business" market works with MDs. Do Harvard med grads get the offers from the top plastic surgery, cardiology, orthopedic practices vs. VCU? Honest question. There must be some reason everyone wants to attend Harvard med compared to VCU med.

I mean, the median income in the DMV for a doctor is $287k. Good living, but nothing fantastical, especially considering you gave up your entire 20s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are full pay with a HHI around 650k. we would only have paid slightly above in state, so merit is critical for private or OOS. our kid also is pre med and we plan on paying for medical school. He is at his first year at VCU. he also got in Vandy, Colgate, and UT Austin.

Got into Vandy, Colgate, Austin, went to VCU? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

Vandy and Colgate are all ~$80K+, and Austin OOSis 70K+. PP stated he got $16K scholarship--so tuition free for IN-state. Pretty smart to take that and run to the bank. VCU has an excellent premed program---he will be well prepared. Chem 101/102, Org Chem 201/202 and Biology 101/102 all cover the material at every university. To get into Med school you need a high gpa, research, great recommendation letters and a High MCAT. Much easier to get a high GPA at VCU than at any of those with all the weed out courses and high competition. He will easily get a 3.8+ at VCU. Not to mention he will likely get to do research, be more involved with professors as the big fish in the pond at VCU vs everywhere else. It's a win-win.
Financially, it's a no-brainer. His ultimately goal is medical school. He will get that debt free, not many people can say that. And the $64K he saves from undergrad will pay for a good portion of one year.

Blah blah blah if I made $650k I would not GAF about that or be trying to nickel and dime undergrad.

Well good for you. However, your kid might go to one of those Elite schools and struggle to keep a 3.9+ and stuggle to get into medical school. While this kid could be on a direct path to medical school at VCU (and likely is). Even if he wants to go elsewhere, he likely will have a 3.8/3.9+ GPA and well set to get in anywhere. Med school don't give you a leg up because you did undergrad at an elite school. They look at MCATs and your GPA/GPA for prereqs and your reserach/involment/volunteering. This kid as a top honors student at VCU will have the opportunity to excel at that. Not as much at Vandy---where 35%+ of the undergrads start wanting premed.

So feel free to throw away your money at college and possibly have your kid taking 2-3 cycles to get into medical school. Meanwhile, this kid will be almost thru medical school, with a tuition of only $34K/year for med school before your kid might even start medical school.
Just because you have money doesn't mean you throw it away.

You seem fairly logical until you insist on adding the judgy judgmental conclusion at the end. Then you've lost your case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are full pay with a HHI around 650k. we would only have paid slightly above in state, so merit is critical for private or OOS. our kid also is pre med and we plan on paying for medical school. He is at his first year at VCU. he also got in Vandy, Colgate, and UT Austin. He didn’t get merit from any of them. He did get the provost scholarship at VCU for 16k/yr so that 64k goes towards med school. He will not need to take out any loads for med school.

What if he decides he doesn't want to go to med school...which a ton of kids do? Why would you have him apply to a school like Vandy or UT Austin or Colgate, knowing they give almost zero merit aid?

I don't undestand? Then he does not go to med school, what do all those kids do? They do someting else LOL! I think his chances are high. His dad is a doctor, his grandfather is a doctor, his uncle is a doctor, he knows exactly what he is getting into.

we did not dictate where he applied, or where he chose to go. He does know exactly how much money he has for undergrad and med school and made his decision accordingly. He also knows that his GPA and MCAT and ECs/research are absoultly critical to getting into a good med school.

DP: And it's much easier to have a near 4.0 and have time to study for the MCATs if you are at a school like VCU (when you got into T25 schools as well). Yes it will be challenging but nowhere on the same level as doing premed at Vandy or Colgate or UT Austin. And you are correct---he will have the ability to do research as an undergrad at VCU and volunteer at the hospital,etc. He will have an easy time building the full resume for Med School applications. People somehow think going to the tippy top schools is always the best. If your intent is med school, law school, any type of medical graduate school, it's often not the best. Going to "a slightly lesser school" where you can shine and will have an easier path to success is the smarter path.
Either way, he gets his undergrad degree for virtually no cost to you (just R&B).

If only more people thought this way

DP: I'm a Vandy alum and can't really quibble with the VCU choice. Particularly if he did or will do the guaranteed admission program. https://honors.vcu.edu/admissions/guaranteed-admission/

Yup---VCU is an excellent med school. And it's instate tuition is very reasonable. If your goal is to be a doctor, it's an excellent path to ensure you go straight to medical school and don't have to spend a year or two "studying for the MCATs and applying and hoping you get in".

Do you care where your doctor got their degree? I don't--beyond I'm not keen on seeing one who went to medical school in the Caribbean (those are known to be slightly lower level, easier to get into). But as long as they are board certified there is not different between a Harvard med grad and a vcu grad---both will be outstanding.

Don't disagree with you as a patient. I don't know how the "business" market works with MDs. Do Harvard med grads get the offers from the top plastic surgery, cardiology, orthopedic practices vs. VCU? Honest question. There must be some reason everyone wants to attend Harvard med compared to VCU med.

I mean, the median income in the DMV for a doctor is $287k. Good living, but nothing fantastical, especially considering you gave up your entire 20s.

All the more reason to do Undergrad for virtually free and medical school with in-state tuition. That income looks much better when you have no debt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are full pay with a HHI around 650k. we would only have paid slightly above in state, so merit is critical for private or OOS. our kid also is pre med and we plan on paying for medical school. He is at his first year at VCU. he also got in Vandy, Colgate, and UT Austin. He didn’t get merit from any of them. He did get the provost scholarship at VCU for 16k/yr so that 64k goes towards med school. He will not need to take out any loads for med school.

What if he decides he doesn't want to go to med school...which a ton of kids do? Why would you have him apply to a school like Vandy or UT Austin or Colgate, knowing they give almost zero merit aid?

I don't undestand? Then he does not go to med school, what do all those kids do? They do someting else LOL! I think his chances are high. His dad is a doctor, his grandfather is a doctor, his uncle is a doctor, he knows exactly what he is getting into.

we did not dictate where he applied, or where he chose to go. He does know exactly how much money he has for undergrad and med school and made his decision accordingly. He also knows that his GPA and MCAT and ECs/research are absoultly critical to getting into a good med school.

DP: And it's much easier to have a near 4.0 and have time to study for the MCATs if you are at a school like VCU (when you got into T25 schools as well). Yes it will be challenging but nowhere on the same level as doing premed at Vandy or Colgate or UT Austin. And you are correct---he will have the ability to do research as an undergrad at VCU and volunteer at the hospital,etc. He will have an easy time building the full resume for Med School applications. People somehow think going to the tippy top schools is always the best. If your intent is med school, law school, any type of medical graduate school, it's often not the best. Going to "a slightly lesser school" where you can shine and will have an easier path to success is the smarter path.
Either way, he gets his undergrad degree for virtually no cost to you (just R&B).

If only more people thought this way

DP: I'm a Vandy alum and can't really quibble with the VCU choice. Particularly if he did or will do the guaranteed admission program. https://honors.vcu.edu/admissions/guaranteed-admission/

Yup---VCU is an excellent med school. And it's instate tuition is very reasonable. If your goal is to be a doctor, it's an excellent path to ensure you go straight to medical school and don't have to spend a year or two "studying for the MCATs and applying and hoping you get in".

Do you care where your doctor got their degree? I don't--beyond I'm not keen on seeing one who went to medical school in the Caribbean (those are known to be slightly lower level, easier to get into). But as long as they are board certified there is not different between a Harvard med grad and a vcu grad---both will be outstanding.

Don't disagree with you as a patient. I don't know how the "business" market works with MDs. Do Harvard med grads get the offers from the top plastic surgery, cardiology, orthopedic practices vs. VCU? Honest question. There must be some reason everyone wants to attend Harvard med compared to VCU med.

I mean, the median income in the DMV for a doctor is $287k. Good living, but nothing fantastical, especially considering you gave up your entire 20s.

All the more reason to do Undergrad for virtually free and medical school with in-state tuition. That income looks much better when you have no debt

I mean, wouldn't you rather take on debt and make $3MM/year with one of these top practices? Better yet, shouldn't you pursue one of the myriad other careers that can get you to this salary level without the massive opportunity cost of being in school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are full pay with a HHI around 650k. we would only have paid slightly above in state, so merit is critical for private or OOS. our kid also is pre med and we plan on paying for medical school. He is at his first year at VCU. he also got in Vandy, Colgate, and UT Austin.

Got into Vandy, Colgate, Austin, went to VCU? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

Vandy and Colgate are all ~$80K+, and Austin OOSis 70K+. PP stated he got $16K scholarship--so tuition free for IN-state. Pretty smart to take that and run to the bank. VCU has an excellent premed program---he will be well prepared. Chem 101/102, Org Chem 201/202 and Biology 101/102 all cover the material at every university. To get into Med school you need a high gpa, research, great recommendation letters and a High MCAT. Much easier to get a high GPA at VCU than at any of those with all the weed out courses and high competition. He will easily get a 3.8+ at VCU. Not to mention he will likely get to do research, be more involved with professors as the big fish in the pond at VCU vs everywhere else. It's a win-win.
Financially, it's a no-brainer. His ultimately goal is medical school. He will get that debt free, not many people can say that. And the $64K he saves from undergrad will pay for a good portion of one year.

Blah blah blah if I made $650k I would not GAF about that or be trying to nickel and dime undergrad.

Well good for you. However, your kid might go to one of those Elite schools and struggle to keep a 3.9+ and stuggle to get into medical school. While this kid could be on a direct path to medical school at VCU (and likely is). Even if he wants to go elsewhere, he likely will have a 3.8/3.9+ GPA and well set to get in anywhere. Med school don't give you a leg up because you did undergrad at an elite school. They look at MCATs and your GPA/GPA for prereqs and your reserach/involment/volunteering. This kid as a top honors student at VCU will have the opportunity to excel at that. Not as much at Vandy---where 35%+ of the undergrads start wanting premed.

So feel free to throw away your money at college and possibly have your kid taking 2-3 cycles to get into medical school. Meanwhile, this kid will be almost thru medical school, with a tuition of only $34K/year for med school before your kid might even start medical school.
Just because you have money doesn't mean you throw it away.

You seem fairly logical until you insist on adding the judgy judgmental conclusion at the end. Then you've lost your case.

We're assuming we have the money to fully pay, as you've said. Kid gets in and really wants to go to Vandy. THEN, you start the well, VCU is much less expensive .... That's BS. That means you don't have the money to send kid to full pay private. Just own the conversation early in the process. You know your kid is not going to get a boatload of merit aid at any top 40 school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are full pay with a HHI around 650k. we would only have paid slightly above in state, so merit is critical for private or OOS. our kid also is pre med and we plan on paying for medical school. He is at his first year at VCU. he also got in Vandy, Colgate, and UT Austin.

Got into Vandy, Colgate, Austin, went to VCU? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

Vandy and Colgate are all ~$80K+, and Austin OOSis 70K+. PP stated he got $16K scholarship--so tuition free for IN-state. Pretty smart to take that and run to the bank. VCU has an excellent premed program---he will be well prepared. Chem 101/102, Org Chem 201/202 and Biology 101/102 all cover the material at every university. To get into Med school you need a high gpa, research, great recommendation letters and a High MCAT. Much easier to get a high GPA at VCU than at any of those with all the weed out courses and high competition. He will easily get a 3.8+ at VCU. Not to mention he will likely get to do research, be more involved with professors as the big fish in the pond at VCU vs everywhere else. It's a win-win.
Financially, it's a no-brainer. His ultimately goal is medical school. He will get that debt free, not many people can say that. And the $64K he saves from undergrad will pay for a good portion of one year.

Blah blah blah if I made $650k I would not GAF about that or be trying to nickel and dime undergrad.

Well good for you. However, your kid might go to one of those Elite schools and struggle to keep a 3.9+ and stuggle to get into medical school. While this kid could be on a direct path to medical school at VCU (and likely is). Even if he wants to go elsewhere, he likely will have a 3.8/3.9+ GPA and well set to get in anywhere. Med school don't give you a leg up because you did undergrad at an elite school. They look at MCATs and your GPA/GPA for prereqs and your reserach/involment/volunteering. This kid as a top honors student at VCU will have the opportunity to excel at that. Not as much at Vandy---where 35%+ of the undergrads start wanting premed.

So feel free to throw away your money at college and possibly have your kid taking 2-3 cycles to get into medical school. Meanwhile, this kid will be almost thru medical school, with a tuition of only $34K/year for med school before your kid might even start medical school.
Just because you have money doesn't mean you throw it away.

You're deliberately missing the point. If your kid stays committed to the idea of going to medical school, great, the VCU plan will work out nicely. But if the kid changes their mind about medical school, or flunks a major prereq course like o-chem, then going to one of the better undergrads would have created superior options to VCU. Also, the possibility exists that the kid will stay committed to premed but get rejected for admission to medical school, in which case the better undergrads again create superior options to VCU.

Here's a study that says out of a group of 15,442 students who indicated intentions of studying pre-medicine prior to entering college, only 16.5% of the students graduated with the coursework required by most medical schools.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7769285/

If your kid stays the course, fantastic. But that certainly wasn't the way to bet when making a decision about where to go for undergrad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are full pay with a HHI around 650k. we would only have paid slightly above in state, so merit is critical for private or OOS. our kid also is pre med and we plan on paying for medical school. He is at his first year at VCU. he also got in Vandy, Colgate, and UT Austin.

Got into Vandy, Colgate, Austin, went to VCU? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

Vandy and Colgate are all ~$80K+, and Austin OOSis 70K+. PP stated he got $16K scholarship--so tuition free for IN-state. Pretty smart to take that and run to the bank. VCU has an excellent premed program---he will be well prepared. Chem 101/102, Org Chem 201/202 and Biology 101/102 all cover the material at every university. To get into Med school you need a high gpa, research, great recommendation letters and a High MCAT. Much easier to get a high GPA at VCU than at any of those with all the weed out courses and high competition. He will easily get a 3.8+ at VCU. Not to mention he will likely get to do research, be more involved with professors as the big fish in the pond at VCU vs everywhere else. It's a win-win.
Financially, it's a no-brainer. His ultimately goal is medical school. He will get that debt free, not many people can say that. And the $64K he saves from undergrad will pay for a good portion of one year.

Blah blah blah if I made $650k I would not GAF about that or be trying to nickel and dime undergrad.

Well good for you. However, your kid might go to one of those Elite schools and struggle to keep a 3.9+ and stuggle to get into medical school. While this kid could be on a direct path to medical school at VCU (and likely is). Even if he wants to go elsewhere, he likely will have a 3.8/3.9+ GPA and well set to get in anywhere. Med school don't give you a leg up because you did undergrad at an elite school. They look at MCATs and your GPA/GPA for prereqs and your reserach/involment/volunteering. This kid as a top honors student at VCU will have the opportunity to excel at that. Not as much at Vandy---where 35%+ of the undergrads start wanting premed.

So feel free to throw away your money at college and possibly have your kid taking 2-3 cycles to get into medical school. Meanwhile, this kid will be almost thru medical school, with a tuition of only $34K/year for med school before your kid might even start medical school.
Just because you have money doesn't mean you throw it away.

You seem fairly logical until you insist on adding the judgy judgmental conclusion at the end. Then you've lost your case.

That's reality and not "judge"---the $250K+ saved on medical school and undergrad could be given to that kid for "starting life". Downpayment for a home, no debt from school leads to an excellent start at age 30. The previous posters stating you should pay for the elite schools is not the smartest financial advice. And yes, it is much easier to maintain a high gpa when at a "lesser school" Ultimately many kids do take multiple cycles to get into Med school/PA/PT/OT/etc schools. It's competitive. GPA and MCATs are key requirements and any kid that got into the elite schools listed will probably have an easy time maintaining a very high gpa at VCU in premed courses. And yes, kids from elite universities do often take more than 1 cycle to get into med school---just like kids do from all universities. There are only so many slots available and more people who want that path. So I simply don't understand people vilifying someone who takes a path without debt at a school with a great medical school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are full pay with a HHI around 650k. we would only have paid slightly above in state, so merit is critical for private or OOS. our kid also is pre med and we plan on paying for medical school. He is at his first year at VCU. he also got in Vandy, Colgate, and UT Austin. He didn’t get merit from any of them. He did get the provost scholarship at VCU for 16k/yr so that 64k goes towards med school. He will not need to take out any loads for med school.

What if he decides he doesn't want to go to med school...which a ton of kids do? Why would you have him apply to a school like Vandy or UT Austin or Colgate, knowing they give almost zero merit aid?

I don't undestand? Then he does not go to med school, what do all those kids do? They do someting else LOL! I think his chances are high. His dad is a doctor, his grandfather is a doctor, his uncle is a doctor, he knows exactly what he is getting into.

we did not dictate where he applied, or where he chose to go. He does know exactly how much money he has for undergrad and med school and made his decision accordingly. He also knows that his GPA and MCAT and ECs/research are absoultly critical to getting into a good med school.

DP: And it's much easier to have a near 4.0 and have time to study for the MCATs if you are at a school like VCU (when you got into T25 schools as well). Yes it will be challenging but nowhere on the same level as doing premed at Vandy or Colgate or UT Austin. And you are correct---he will have the ability to do research as an undergrad at VCU and volunteer at the hospital,etc. He will have an easy time building the full resume for Med School applications. People somehow think going to the tippy top schools is always the best. If your intent is med school, law school, any type of medical graduate school, it's often not the best. Going to "a slightly lesser school" where you can shine and will have an easier path to success is the smarter path.
Either way, he gets his undergrad degree for virtually no cost to you (just R&B).

If only more people thought this way

DP: I'm a Vandy alum and can't really quibble with the VCU choice. Particularly if he did or will do the guaranteed admission program. https://honors.vcu.edu/admissions/guaranteed-admission/

Yup---VCU is an excellent med school. And it's instate tuition is very reasonable. If your goal is to be a doctor, it's an excellent path to ensure you go straight to medical school and don't have to spend a year or two "studying for the MCATs and applying and hoping you get in".

Do you care where your doctor got their degree? I don't--beyond I'm not keen on seeing one who went to medical school in the Caribbean (those are known to be slightly lower level, easier to get into). But as long as they are board certified there is not different between a Harvard med grad and a vcu grad---both will be outstanding.

Don't disagree with you as a patient. I don't know how the "business" market works with MDs. Do Harvard med grads get the offers from the top plastic surgery, cardiology, orthopedic practices vs. VCU? Honest question. There must be some reason everyone wants to attend Harvard med compared to VCU med.

I mean, the median income in the DMV for a doctor is $287k. Good living, but nothing fantastical, especially considering you gave up your entire 20s.

All the more reason to do Undergrad for virtually free and medical school with in-state tuition. That income looks much better when you have no debt

I mean, wouldn't you rather take on debt and make $3MM/year with one of these top practices? Better yet, shouldn't you pursue one of the myriad other careers that can get you to this salary level without the massive opportunity cost of being in school?

Wait, what are the myriad other careers that get you $3M a year?

[Anonymous]

One of my kids was premed at UVA but struggled and had to change their focus. To this day they regret not just going to VCU because they think they could have stood out there more - but of course in high school nobody turns down UVA for VCU.

I have another kid who was not an academic in high school who ended up at VCU and loved it. Made lifelong friends and had an interesting and diverse experience and now is just as gainfully employed as anybody we know who went to UVA or William and Mary. Down the road where you get the degree from really doesn’t matter. So why throw away the money on private school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are full pay with a HHI around 650k. we would only have paid slightly above in state, so merit is critical for private or OOS. our kid also is pre med and we plan on paying for medical school. He is at his first year at VCU. he also got in Vandy, Colgate, and UT Austin.

Got into Vandy, Colgate, Austin, went to VCU? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

Vandy and Colgate are all ~$80K+, and Austin OOSis 70K+. PP stated he got $16K scholarship--so tuition free for IN-state. Pretty smart to take that and run to the bank. VCU has an excellent premed program---he will be well prepared. Chem 101/102, Org Chem 201/202 and Biology 101/102 all cover the material at every university. To get into Med school you need a high gpa, research, great recommendation letters and a High MCAT. Much easier to get a high GPA at VCU than at any of those with all the weed out courses and high competition. He will easily get a 3.8+ at VCU. Not to mention he will likely get to do research, be more involved with professors as the big fish in the pond at VCU vs everywhere else. It's a win-win.
Financially, it's a no-brainer. His ultimately goal is medical school. He will get that debt free, not many people can say that. And the $64K he saves from undergrad will pay for a good portion of one year.

Blah blah blah if I made $650k I would not GAF about that or be trying to nickel and dime undergrad.

Well good for you. However, your kid might go to one of those Elite schools and struggle to keep a 3.9+ and stuggle to get into medical school. While this kid could be on a direct path to medical school at VCU (and likely is). Even if he wants to go elsewhere, he likely will have a 3.8/3.9+ GPA and well set to get in anywhere. Med school don't give you a leg up because you did undergrad at an elite school. They look at MCATs and your GPA/GPA for prereqs and your reserach/involment/volunteering. This kid as a top honors student at VCU will have the opportunity to excel at that. Not as much at Vandy---where 35%+ of the undergrads start wanting premed.

So feel free to throw away your money at college and possibly have your kid taking 2-3 cycles to get into medical school. Meanwhile, this kid will be almost thru medical school, with a tuition of only $34K/year for med school before your kid might even start medical school.
Just because you have money doesn't mean you throw it away.

You seem fairly logical until you insist on adding the judgy judgmental conclusion at the end. Then you've lost your case.

That's reality and not "judge"---the $250K+ saved on medical school and undergrad could be given to that kid for "starting life". Downpayment for a home, no debt from school leads to an excellent start at age 30. The previous posters stating you should pay for the elite schools is not the smartest financial advice. And yes, it is much easier to maintain a high gpa when at a "lesser school" Ultimately many kids do take multiple cycles to get into Med school/PA/PT/OT/etc schools. It's competitive. GPA and MCATs are key requirements and any kid that got into the elite schools listed will probably have an easy time maintaining a very high gpa at VCU in premed courses. And yes, kids from elite universities do often take more than 1 cycle to get into med school---just like kids do from all universities. There are only so many slots available and more people who want that path. So I simply don't understand people vilifying someone who takes a path without debt at a school with a great medical school.

Again, the financial advice about school choice for someone who makes $650k is very different than the advice you give someone who makes $150k. The latter parent, absolutely send their kid to VCU. The former parent can send their kid to Colgate or Vandy and not even notice the extra cost compared to VCU.

And if the medical school plan falls through, then the jobs you wil get coming out of VCU will be nowhere near as attractive as those you will get coming out of Vandy or Colgate, in which case the "smart financial advice" of attending VCU turned out to be a false economy.